NYC History & Politics

Culture of Gotham City

Sheepshead Bay is a bay separating the mainland of Brooklyn, New York City from the eastern portion of Coney Island, the latter originally a barrier island but now effectively an extension of the mainland with peninsulas both east (the neighborhood of Manhattan Beach) and west (the neighborhood of Sea Gate). Sheepshead Bay is located at 40°15'N, 72°57'W.

The bay itself was originally the easterly entrance to Coney Island Creek but filling of the central part of this waterway during the 1930s in conjunction with construction of the Shore Parkway portion of the Belt Parkway eliminated access to the creek. At the same time the bay was widened at its western end, deepened and bulkheaded. It is now the home of recreational fishing fleets. At the Western end of the bay, there is a Holocaust memorial park, which is used throughout the year for commemorative events.

In the last decade of the 20th century, a real estate boom brought the reopening of the landmark Lundy Brothers seafood restaurant, as well as the opening of Russian-themed restaurant/nightclubs such as Paradise and Baku Palace. The waterfront also experienced a growth of condominium developments. The northern shore of the bay contains piers with an active seafood market and tour boats.

Sheepshead Bay is named for the sheepshead, an edible fish once found in the bay's waters. According to local lore, Sheepshead Bay was named for its shape, which was thought to resemble the head of a sheep.

Community and location

The community on the mainland shore of the bay is also known as Sheepshead Bay, while that on the Coney Island side is known as Manhattan Beach. Sheepshead Bay is a mostly residential community, with restaurant and tourist facilities near the shore. Sheepshead Bay is served by the BMT Brighton Line's Avenue U, Neck Road, and Sheepshead Bay stations, the latter of which is an express station.

How safe is New York City? Contrary to popular belief, the City consistantly ranks in the top ten safest large cities in the United States. The NYPD is the largest municipal police force in the world and has it's own Movie/TV Unit.

New York Climate

New York has a humid continental climate resulting from prevailing wind patterns that bring cool air from the interior of the North American continent. New York winters are typically cold with moderate snowfall.New York Weather Forecast

Demographics

New York's two key demographic features are its density and diversity. The New York City metropolitan area is home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel. It is also home to nearly a quarter of the nation's South Asians, and the largest African American community of any city in the country.Ethnic composition